The Treasury Department imposed the sanctions against three companies owned by Deripaska almost 10 months ago because of Russia’s “malign activity around the globe.” Deripaska was also personally sanctioned because the U.S. accused him of threatening rivals’ lives, bribing government officials and having links to organized crime — all of which Deripaska has denied.

Donald Trump, then president of the Trump Organization, talks to Christopher Burnham, undersecretary general of the U.N. Department of Management, after Trump testified before a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs subcommittee on July 21, 2005, as his wife, Melania, accompanied him. (Photo: Joe Raedle via Getty Images)

Deripaska hailed the administration’s move on the sanctions, even as it was condemned by Democrats, who called it a capitulation to the Kremlin and to an oligarch close to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), a longtime critic of lifting the sanctions, called it a “sordid deal” on Twitter, adding that the Trump administration works seven days a week on “favoritism for Russia.” He also accused the president of being more concerned about helping Russian businesses than paying U.S. federal workers amid the newly ended government shutdown.

NEW: Ignoring House disapproval of this sordid deal, refusing to have Secretary Mnuchin testify, & seeking to preempt Senate disapproval, Trump Admin works 7 days/week with favoritism for Russia.

Deripaska’s companies, including energy firm JSC EuroSibEnergo, financed a months-long lobbying battle against the sanctions, arguing that the penalties would harm the international aluminum market and U.S. companies.